NFA dismisses Singaporean’s match-fixing claim

The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has dismissed the claim by a Singaporean, Wilson Perumal, that he helped Nigeria qualify for the 2010 FIFA World Cup.

A statement from NFF’s Assistant Director (Communications), Ademola Olajire, on Tuesday in Abuja said Perumal’s claim was nothing more than “distinct fiction by a self-confessed and convicted Singaporean match-fixer”.

“The true heroes of Nigeria’s qualification for the 2010 World Cup were the Federal Government, the NFA, players and coaches of the Super Eagles, and the rest Nigerians,” it said.

The statement also quoted NFA’s General Secretary, Musa Amadu, as saying Nigeria had nothing to do with Perumal all through Super Eagles’ qualifying campaign for the World Cup in South Africa.

“We have gone through the fictitious write-up by the Singaporean, who was fittingly convicted for his nefarious activities and has spent time in jail.

“The NFA is saying now that there was no truth to the claim and that we had nothing to do with Perumal all through the Super Eagles’ qualifying matches for 2010 FIFA World Cup.

“Perumal’s statements are hogwash and have no legs to stand on. We have ordered for the book itself with a view to digesting it and looking critically at it.

“If the book impugns on the image of the NFA, our players and the larger image of our dear country, we will take appropriate action,” the statement quoted Amadu as saying.

It added however that Amadu said further enquiries on the matter should be directed at world football-governing body, FIFA, since the match was a FIFA competition qualifier.

“NFA’s Integrity Officer, Sanusi Mohammed, stated that he, alongside NFA’s Match-fixing Investigative Officer, Christian Emeruwa, was in communication with FIFA Security (Department) on match-fixing matters and would dig deeper into the claim,” the statement read.

Perumal had claimed in the book that he helped Honduras and Nigeria to qualify for the 2010 World Cup through his activities.

He claimed he held a meeting with a Nigerian football official where he promised to help Nigeria qualify for the World Cup.

This was in return for free rein in organising three warm-up matches and a cut of the money FIFA provides for hosting a training camp during the competition.

Perumal claimed to influence three players who are on his payroll to help Nigeria to victory in one of their qualifiers.

He further claimed to have promised the Mozambique Football Association a $100,000 bonus if they were able to hold Tunisia to a draw.

The draw would have stopped Tunisia from leapfrogging Nigeria and seize automatic qualification.